Hubbard County supports Clay County’s efforts to develop a regional psychiatric residential treatment facility (PRTF).
Hubbard County Human Services Director Brian Orfus said he is “very, very, very” in favor of the plan “because of the current lack of places to place juveniles.”
According to a fact sheet submitted by Opus to the Hubbard County Commission on Tuesday, March 5, PRTF provides “aggressive treatment to youth under the age of 21 with complex mental health conditions. It is an inpatient level of care provided in a residential facility rather than in a residential facility.”
Within the past three weeks, Ophus reported that for the first time in Hubbard County, there are young people who are not being accepted anywhere.
“We had her in the office with a social worker 24 hours a day. It’s sad. It really is, because we can’t provide them with the kind of support they need.”
The department eventually found an out-of-state placement for the teen. Two social workers from Hubbard County traveled to Texas to conduct a home evaluation. “It turned out great,” he said.
Minnesota is running out of available beds, Orfus said, and called Clay County’s plan “excellent.” Community His provider, Solutions Behavioral Healthcare Professionals, is interested in partnering with Clay County.
“It will save the county and the state money because the only facility currently available is out-of-state in Missouri and costs $2,000 to $3,000 per day,” Orfus said. That’s where the biggest costs in human services occur. ”
Some facilities have waiting lists of up to nine months to a year, he added.
Teen mental health problems increase by 373%
“It’s a full-blown crisis for young people,” Orfus said, pointing to a fact sheet. According to the nonprofit organization Mental Health Minnesota, “Between 2019 and 2020, the number of Minnesota children tested for mental health issues online increased by 373%, or from 1,662 to 7,882. “And we all know what happened in 2020,” he said. Due to the new coronavirus infection (COVID-19) pandemic. “I can only imagine it skyrocketed from there.”
As of January 2024, there are four PRTFs in Minnesota, with another in development in Grand Rapids. They are located in Duluth, East Bethel, Cold Spring and St. Peter. The total capacity is 166 beds.
The fact sheet states, “Throughout the state of Minnesota, we support children with severe, complex, and/or co-occurring conditions, including violent or sexually inappropriate behavior and physical health issues. There is insufficient capacity for continuing care for Children are being housed in emergency medical departments, juvenile detention centers, and even county office space and hotels, as officials work to find appropriate health care providers to meet the children’s needs. They often have to make dozens of phone calls within and outside of Minnesota to find a health care provider who can meet their child’s needs. ”
Clay County will apply for start-up and planning funding through the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS). They also want to queue up a bond bill for the 2025 Minnesota Legislature. If approved, the bond would help with land acquisition and construction of the PRTF.
District 4A state Rep. Heather Keeler (DFL, Moorhead) and Clay County Commissioners are asking surrounding counties for resolutions of support.
Hubbard County commissioners unanimously approved the resolution.
The resolution asserts that “PRTF bed locations must be distributed throughout the state to ensure equal access and proximity to children’s home communities, families, and service providers.”
“This facility would be great for our area if it were to become a reality,” Orfus said.
